China Culture Discovery - 12 Days / 11 Nights

TOUR CODE TC 2014

The Classic China Discovery highlights China's history and heritage with ancient architectural masterpieces and culture-rich communities. Explore the Hanging Monastery high on Henshan Mountain and gaze at the tallest and oldest Buddhist pagoda built solely of wood. Walk through the 2,300 Stele Forest stone epitaphs and visit ancient cave-dwelling villages throughout your journey. Enjoy tasty cultural dinners, an action-packed kung fu performance, and shrines, temples, and mausoleums from dynasties long past. You will experience ancient worlds on your Classic China Discovery.

It is located at the northeast corner of the city, considered as the largest and most perfectly preserved lamasery in present day China.

Built initially in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, this building was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince. However, in 1744 the Qing Dynasty formally changed the status of the dwelling to that of a lamasery, and so it became the national centre of Lama administration.

With the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park to its east, Zhong Nan Hai (Central and South Seas) to its south, Beihai (North Sea) Park is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China located in the city center. This ancient garden, with over 1,000 years' history, is not only a classic combination of the grandiosity of the northern gardens and the refinement of the southern gardens in China, but also a perfect integration of magnificent imperial palaces and solemn religious constructions.

China Discovery Tours

Datong

Yungang Grottoes, one of the three major cave clusters in China, punctuate the north cliff of Wuzhou Mountain, Datong. The area was excavated along the mountain, extending 1 km (0.62 miles) from east to west, revealing 53 caves and over 51,000 stone statues.

The Huayan Monastery complex is located on Daxi Street on the south western side of Datong City, Shanxi Province. There are two separate sections to the monastery, the upper one referred to as the Grand Hall housing five large Ming Dynasty Buddhas, and the lower section referred to as the Sutra Temple containing a library of some 18,000 volumes of Buddhist writings. Built during the Liao Dynasty (907 - 1125), it is the largest and best preserved monastery of the Liao Dynasty in existence in China. It was built according to the Huayan Sutra Sect of the Huayan School and is unique in that it faces east instead of south.

China Discovery Tours

Pingyao

Many are not aware of this fascinating location. It was listed in the "World's Top 10 Most Dangerous Architectures" by Times Magazine. This monastery is even more dangerous than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The whole structure is supported by only a few wooden beams built into a cliff surface of Hengshan Mountain.

The pagoda is the oldest and highest wooden structure in China. It has survived seven earthquakes. The pagoda has stood firmly after all that turbulence demonstrating its fine construction and quality. No nails or rivets were used in its construction.

The pagoda is the oldest and highest wooden structure in China. It has survived seven earthquakes. The pagoda has stood firmly after all that turbulence demonstrating its fine construction and quality. No nails or rivets were used in its construction.

is another masterpiece of traditional civil architecture in North China. You will see a lot of unique and beautiful detail put into this compound. In 1990, this ancient mansion became famous all over China and abroad thanks to the movie "Raise the Red Lantern" by director Zhang Yimou. After the film was finished, many red lanterns were left behind by the production team. Since then, red lanterns have become the most important decoration in the Qiao Family Grand Courtyard and in other jin shang (Shanxi Merchants) courtyards.

China Discovery Tours

Xian

The most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Over 7,000 soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these excavation pits. It is possible that there are still thousands of these warriors that are still buried in pits that have yet to be discovered.

Built during the Tang Dynasty and renovated during the Ming Dynasty, this pagoda is one of the most well-preserved Buddhist pagodas in all of China. It is one of Xian's main landmarks. The Pagoda holds many ancient Buddhist artifacts such as sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India.

The Ming Dynasty is responsible for building what is known as China's most complete surviving city wall. It is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. The city wall includes four gates and they are respectively named as Changle (meaning eternal joy) in the east, Anding (harmony peace) in the west, Yongning (eternal peace) in the south and Anyuan (forever harmony) in the north.

China Discovery Tours

Luoyang

The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties. The works are entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, and represent the best in Chinese stone carving.

is the place where Guan Yu's head was buried. General Guan Yu is a hero in Chinese history and is the only person respected by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists. The temple embodies the traditional style of Chinese architecture - designed and build symmetrically.

China Discovery Tours

Shaolin/Zhengzhou

Shaolin Temple - Located in Dengfeng City, it is reputed to be the "Number One Temple under Heaven". In 2010, it was included on UNESCO's World Cultural & Natural Heritage List. The temple is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin Martial Arts.

China Discovery Tours

Shanghai City

The tower is 4698 meters high (almost 3 miles) and is the world's third tallest TV and radio tower. Travel up and down the tower in double-decker elevators that can hold up to 50 people at the rate of seven meters (almost 23 feet) per second. From the top on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Yangtze River.

Built during the Ming Dynasty, the Yuyuan Garden is the most famous classical garden in Shanghai. The gardens are exquisitely arranged and feature the gardening styles of South China during Ming and Qing Dynasties. Yu Yuan (meaning "Garden of Peace and Comfort", is a maze of Ming dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall.

Step back in time.....visit the Huxinting Teahouse built on stilts amid a garden lake in 1784. This is the historic Chinese area of the city, where much of the old wooden architecture of ancient Shanghai is still preserved. The old district is a combination of ancient winding streets, with some modern high-rise buildings.

Is the symbol of modern Shanghai This colonial riverside of old Shanghai has dozens of historic buildings lining the Huangpu River. 52 high rises of all styles in the West showcase the art of world architecture and the history of contemporary Shanghai.